ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2002-40

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Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2002-40

 

Ottawa, 26 July 2002

 

Star Choice Inc. - Application for Licence Amendment to Permit Bulk Billing Arrangements (2002-0333-1)

 

DEADLINE FOR INTERVENTION

 

26 August 2002

 

Summary

 

In Public Notice CRTC 2002-7 dated 12 February 2002, the Commission announced its intention to permit direct-to-home (DTH) distributors, upon application, to engage in the practice of bulk billing on the same basis as cable undertakings. The Commission invited DTH licensees to file applications to amend their licences accordingly. On 3 May 2002, Star Choice Inc. (Star Choice), a national DTH satellite distribution undertaking, applied for an amendment to its licence to permit it to engage in the practice of bulk billing on the same basis as cable undertakings.

 

The term "bulk billing" describes the practice whereby the owner or management of a multiple-unit dwelling acquires programming services from a broadcasting distribution undertaking (BDU) on a wholesale basis for redistribution to the residents of the building.

 

Background

1.

Decision CRTC 96-529 authorized Star Choice to carry on a "national, direct-to-home (DTH) satellite distribution undertaking" that will provide "programming services exclusively to individual subscribers in all parts of Canada on a DTH basis".

2.

In Public Notice CRTC 2002-7, the Commission found that the inability of DTH providers to engage in the same bulk billing practices as those used as a marketing tool by cable undertakings may place DTH providers at a competitive disadvantage. Therefore, the Commission determined the public interest would best be served by permitting DTH distributors to engage in the practice of bulk billing on the same basis as cable. The Commission invited DTH licencees to file applications to amend their licences accordingly.

3.

In a letter to the Commission dated 3 May 2002 Star Choice informed the Commission that further to Public Notice 2002-7 it was applying for a licence amendment to permit bulk billing arrangements.

 

Call for Comments

4.

The Commission invites comments that address this application. The Commission will accept comments that it receives on or before 26 August 2002.

5.

The Commission will not formally acknowledge comments. It will, however, fully consider all comments and they will form part of the public record of the proceeding, provided that the procedures for filing set out below have been followed.

 

Procedures for filing comments

6.

Interested parties can file their comments on paper or electronically. Submissions longer than five pages should include a summary.

7.

Parties wishing to file their comments on paper should send them to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, K1A 0N2.

8.

Parties wishing to file electronic versions of their comments can do so by email or on diskette. The Commission email address is procedure@crtc.gc.ca

9.

Electronic submissions should be in the HTML format. As an alternative, those making submissions may use "Microsoft Word" for text and "Microsoft Excel" for spreadsheets.

10.

Please number each paragraph of your submission. In addition, please enter the line ***End of document*** following the last paragraph. This will help the Commission verify that the document has not been damaged during transmission.

11.

The Commission will make comments filed in electronic form available on its web site at www.crtc.gc.ca in the official language and format in which they are submitted. This will make it easier for members of the public to consult the documents.

12.

The Commission also encourages interested parties to monitor the public examination file (and/or the Commission's web site) for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their comments.

 

Examination of public comments and related documents at the following Commission offices during normal business hours

 

Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room G-5
Hull, Quebec K1A 0N2
Tel: (819) 997-2429 - TDD: 994-0423
Fax: (819) 994-0218

 

Bank of Commerce Building
1809 Barrington Street
Suite 1007
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3K8
Tel: (902) 426-7997 - TDD: 426-6997
Fax: (902) 426-2721

 

405 de Maisonneuve Boulevard East
2nd Floor, Suite B2300
Montréal, Quebec H2L 4J5
Tel: (514) 283-6607 - TDD: 283-8316
Fax: (514) 283-3689

 

55 St. Clair Avenue East
Suite 624
Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M2
Tel: (416) 952-9096
Fax: (416) 954-6343

 

Kensington Building
275 Portage Avenue
Suite 1810
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B3
Tel: (204) 983-6306 - TDD: 983-8274
Fax: (204) 983-6317

 

Cornwall Professional Building
2125 - 11th Avenue
Room 103
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3X3
Tel: (306) 780-3422
Fax: (306) 780-3319

 

10405 Jasper Avenue
Suite 520
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3N4
Tel: (780) 495-3224
Fax: (780) 495-3214

 

530-580 Hornby Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3B6
Tel: (604) 666-2111 - TDD: 666-0778
Fax: (604) 666-8322

 

Related CRTC Documents

 

Public Notice CRTC 2002-7 - Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2002-7 - Bulk billing by direct-to-home satellite distribution undertakings.

 

Decision CRTC 2001-521 - Rogers' complaint against Star Choice RE: Bulk Billing in Multi-Unit Dwellings.

 

Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.

 

Secretary General

 

This document is available in alternate format upon request and may also be examined at the following internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca

Date Modified: 2002-07-26

Date modified: